Decades before Amazon's HQ2 sweepstakes, Illinois fought to keep Sears, Reobuck & Co. headquarted in the state. But by one estimate, the deal cost taxpayers half-a-billion dollars, with questionable benefits.
Today on The 21st: the history of Sears' tax breaks in Illinois, accents from around the state, and the environmental effects of staying at home during the pandemic.
On the 21st: Sears, once the largest retailer in the world, which has been headquartered here in Illinois for more than a century, filed for bankruptcy. Plus, as the state celebrates its bicentennial, we check in on the Lincoln museum's latest Top 10 list: scientists. But first, Illinois is home to two of the nation's most competitive Congressional elections.
On this encore edition of The 21st: Are affirmative action policies in college admissions under threat? Plus, we learn about Islamic communities in the Midwest and discuss the state of retail giant Sears.
On the 21st: Illinois finally has a budget. But after two years of going without - what will it take to rebuild? Plus, one of the reasons Illinois budget standoff become the longest since the Great Depression -- most people said it didn’t really matter to them. And, Sears has been losing billions of dollars and 43 more stores nationwide are closing. Retirees in Illinois join us to talk about what Sears meant to them.
